Journal
PAIN
Volume 158, Issue 11, Pages 2117-2128Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001024
Keywords
Analgesia; C fibers; Oxytocin receptor; Pain; WDR cells
Categories
Funding
- PAPIIT-UNAM [IN200415]
- CONACYT [597467]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Oxytocin (OT) has emerged as a mediator of endogenous analgesia in behavioral and electrophysiological experiments. In fact, OT receptors (OTRs) in the spinal dorsal horn participate in a selective inhibition of the neuronal activity mediated by Ad and C fibers but not Ab fibers. This study shows that OTRs are expressed in the terminal nerve endings and are able to inhibit nociceptive neuronal firing. Indeed, local peripheral OT blocked the first sensorial activity of Ad and C fibers recorded in the spinal cord neurons. Furthermore, using the formalin behavioral nociceptive test, we demonstrated that only ipsilateral OTR activation inhibits pain behavior. Our data are reinforced by the fact that the OTR protein is expressed in the sciatic nerve. Consistent with this, immunofluorescence of primary afferent fibers suggest that OTRs could be located in nociceptive-specific terminals of the skin. Taken together, our results suggest that OTRs could be found in nociceptive terminals and that on activation they are able to inhibit nociceptive input.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available